Submitted

Thu, Nov 21st 2013 11:15 pm

Attorney General Eric T.
Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón released this
statement following news reports indicating wireless carriers have blocked a
technological solution proposed by Samsung that had the potential to safeguard
millions of consumers from violent crime and theft.

"It is highly
disturbing that these corporations rejected a proposal that would have helped
keep millions of consumers safe. If they did so to protect their own profit
margins, as several recent reports suggest, it is even more egregious.

"Companies that choose
to prioritize profits over safety put consumers everywhere at risk. Since
smartphone thefts so often result in violence, we call on manufacturers and
carriers alike to make the opt-out kill switch an industry-wide standard. The
members of the S.O.S. Coalition will continue to use the combined powers of its
members to pressure the industry to put the safety of its customers above all
other concerns."